Love in Bloom (De La Fuente Family 3)

He chuckled. “I’m sure we’ll survive…I need to hear you tell me what you want.”

“I want you, Mateo.” She smiled shyly. “I always have and I want you to be happy so if the job at the high school is really what you have your heart set on doing, then I’m with you. I’ll support you and I’ll hopefully be there to kiss you goodbye on your first day.”

He slid a hand behind the back of her head and brought her closer to his waiting mouth. “There’s no ‘hopefully’, there’s only ‘will be’ because anything else isn’t acceptable.” He sealed his words with a kiss. “Now let’s go and sort everything out.”

“Yes, and just so you’re not wondering, I’d love to live here. It’s quiet, hardly ever any traffic, snow in winter and your family are close by. We even have the Bistro with amazing coffee and carrot cake, so I mean, what more could we ask for?” She smiled and his heart soared in his chest. She was so damn beautiful sitting beside him in her pale blue jeans and yellow blouse. Like a breath of fresh air.

Silence settled over them until he reached Principal Crommer’s house.

He moved around to open Erin’s door and pressed in close to her. “You’re really sure?”

She looked at him, her smile slipped. “Mateo, I’m sure, but are you?” Her hands reached up and caressed his face, over the scruff that coated his cheeks and jaw, as worry filled her face.

“I’m sure. It’s just,” he laughed and ran his hands through his hair as he moved slightly away, “I’ve never known anything else and accepting the job he offered me is the end to everything I’ve ever known… Stupid, huh?”

Erin followed him out of the truck as he backed away and grabbed the front of his shirt. “Stop moving and look at me.”

The sharpness in her tone certainly made him stop and meet her gaze. “You’re bossy.”

She smiled. ”You’ve not seen anything yet.” Reaching up, she kissed him. “You’ve got this and you can do anything you put your mind to. Football has been your life and the kids you’re going to be coaching will work to impress you. You more than anyone will be able to bring out the true potential in them. You really do have this.”

How the hell did he manage without her before?

A step forward brought him up close and just when he was about to show her what her words meant to him, he spotted Edward walking toward them.

“Tonight, baby.” He slipped his hand into Erin’s and stepped around her to greet the principal.

“Mateo, this is an unexpected visit,” Edward said in greeting and looked at Erin.

“This is my girlfriend, Erin.”

The introductions over with, Mateo got right down to business. “If your job offer is still open, I’d like to accept and start at the beginning of the new school year.”

“You do?” Edward stepped back and ran a hand down his face. “You do…are you sure? I mean I can’t afford the salary you’re used to making and I’m sure you will have had offers worth more.”

Mateo grinned and wanted to reassure Edward that he was serious. “I’m sure. My girl graduates in May, and after that, we’ll be moving back here. So yes, I am sure, and I’m looking forward to it.”

“In that case, I’m happy to welcome you to the school. I’ll get the paperwork drawn up on Monday morning and send them on to you.”

“That would be fine. Just send it to the house and they’ll get them to me.” Mateo shook Edward’s hand and watched him retreat back inside his house.

“That’s done.”

Erin smiled and tugged him toward the truck. “It is. We need to celebrate.”

He laughed. “We will once I get you into my apartment.” He wiggled his brows. “I might keep you naked…my very own sex slave.”

“Mmm, I like the idea of being naked with you…after last night I can still feel you between my legs.” Erin backed him to the truck and shoved him toward the driver’s side as she climbed into the passenger one.

All he could think about now was how it had felt to sink between her legs. The fist that gripped him, her wetness that had felt so fucking good that he stayed hard long after he’d come.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she commented with a smirk on her face, her eyes focused in his crotch. “You’re thinking about my pussy and how good it felt when I came all over your cock.”

“Erin,” he growled. “You’re not helping.”

Chuckling she leaned over, kissed him hard and fastened her seatbelt. “Let’s get to Dallas so I can kiss it better.”

“Fuck!”